Elachista atricomella Stainton, 1849

black-headed dwarf

mine

The larva begins in autumn the making of a long, narrow, corridor with a fine central line of grey frass. The corridor is straight or lightly wavy, and descends into the leaf sheath, or even into the stem or rootstock. The larva regularly leaves the mine to begin making a new one. Pupation external.

hostplants

Cyperaceae, Poacea; narrowly oligophagous

Bromus; Carex hostiana; Dactylis glomerata; Melica nutans; Milium effusum.

Dactylis appears to be the main hostplant.

phenology

Larvae from late autumn till in May (Bland, 1996a; Traugott-Olsen & Nielsen, 1977a).

BENELUX

BE recorded (Phegea, 2009).

NE recorded (Kuchlein & de Vos, 1999a; Microlepidoptera.nl, 2009).

LUX recorded (Fauna Europaea, 2009).

distribution within Europe

Almost all Europe, except the Iberian and Balkan Peninsula, and the Mediterranean Islands (Fauna Europaea, 2009).

larva

Pale greenish yellow; head and prothoracic plate light brown; prothoracic plate made up of two narrow elongate sclerites.

synonyms

Elachista holdenella Stainton, 1854.

references

Baldizzone (2004a), Baran (2005a), Bidzilya, Budashkin & Zhakov (2016a), Bland (1996a), Buhr (1935b), Buszko (1990a), Corley, Marabuto & Pires (2007a), Hering (1957a), Kuchlein & Donner (1993a), Kuchlein & de Vos (1999a), Liška ao (2000a), Parenti & Varalda (1994a), De Prins (1998a), Robbins (1991a), Schütze (1931a), Sønderup (1949a), Sruoga & Ivinskis (2005a), Šulcs (1996a), Szőcs (1977a), Traugott-Olsen & Nielsen (1977a), Wörz (1957a).